AMTGARD RESOURCES | MUSINGS, RANTS AND HOW-TO GUIDES
Basic Outline for Knightings PDF Version
Sections
1) Finish all other court business
2) Be sure to arrange beforehand for the Champion (or designated sword-bearer) to be within reach so that the acquiring of the sword is not awkward later on in the ceremony.
3) Call the Belted Circle to court,
“Will the Knights of the Iron Mountains please come forward!”
4) Call the person to be offered a belt forward,
“Will <name> please come before the court!”
5) If someone other than the monarch is to perform the knighting, the monarch should at this point make any positive comments praising the person in front of him/her, then turn the ceremony over to the person who will be performing the knighting.
“To perform the remainder of the ceremony, I would like to now bring forward Sir/Dame <Name>.”
6) The Knight should accept control of the ceremony by thanking the monarch. He/she should then make any positive comments about the candidate that he/she feels appropriate.
7) The Knight or Monarch should then make a formal offer to the candidate, and wait for acceptance or denial.
“As a representative of the Empire and the Knights of the Iron Mountains, we offer you Knighthood of the <Order>. Will you accept this responsibility?”
8) If the candidate refuses the belt, the Knight or Monarch should say something TACTFUL to the candidate acknowledging their refusal and dismissing them from court,
“We understand and respect your choice, and value your accomplishments and service. Thank you for appearing before us, you may now take your seat.”
He/she should then dismiss the Belted Circle,
“We thank you for appearing here tonight. You are dismissed from the court of His/Her Majesty <name>.”
9) If the candidate accepts the belt, the Knight or Monarch should then acquire the sword. If the Monarch is performing the ceremony, he/she should have the sword offered to him/her by the Champion (or other representative if the Champion is not present, as per prior arrangement). If a Knight other than the Monarch is performing the ceremony, the sword should be offered by the Champion (or representative) to the Monarch, who should then offer the sword to the Knight performing the ceremony. (So that the sword is always passing from the Monarch to the candidate, even when it’s by proxy.)
10) The Knight or Monarch then performs the dubbing.
(The following may change after discussion with the knights, but this is one of the most commonly used phrasings)
Placing the flat of the sword on the left shoulder of the candidate (to the Monarch/Knight’s right hand side), say
“For honor and chivalry”
Placing the flat of the sword on the right shoulder of the candidate (to the Monarch/Knight’s left hand side), say
“For service to the Iron Mountains”
Placing the flat of the sword on the head of the candidate, say
“And for the spirit of Amtgard, I dub thee Sir <Name>, Knight of the <Order>”
Removing the sword, hold it tip down in the left hand (at rest). Extend the right hand and raise the new knight, release them to face the audience, declaring loudly
“Arise to be recognized Sir <Name>, Knight of the Iron Mountains”.
The Guildmaster of Knights shall then lead the “three huzzahs” for the new knight,
“Three cheers for Sir <Name>! Hip hip…”
11) Presentation of belt, chain, spurs, and etc. should commence at this point.
12) The Monarch and/or Knight performing the ceremony, after belt & so forth is given, should then begin the welcoming line. Knights should not go back to their seats when done, but rather stay in court until dismissed.
13) Once the welcoming line is completed, if no other court business is to be completed (i.e., the stepping down of officers at a coronation), the Monarch should then dismiss the court (through the herald),
“Thus ends the court of His/Her Majesty <Name>!” (thus ending court on a positive note).
If stepping down of officers and so forth is still to be done, the Monarch (through the herald) should dismiss the Knights from court,
“His/Her Majesty <name> thanks you for your presence, and dismisses the Knights of the Iron Mountains.” (thus putting a definitive end to the ceremony in a formal manner and not leaving people standing around awkwardly.)
It would probably also be positive for a knight or two to take the new knight into their care at this point and escort them off the stage or what-have-you.
